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Friday May 19 5:24 AM ET

U.S. Orders Inspection of Boeing Engine Mounts

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. regulators on Thursday said they would ask airlines to quickly inspect Boeing (NYSE:BA - news) 767 aircraft for damage to bolts that attach the engines to the wings after one plane was found with faults in three of the fasteners.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it would send an urgent airworthiness directive covering 120 U.S.-registered 767s, calling on operators to inspect the bolts over the next five to ten days, depending on how recently the planes were manufactured.

FAA spokeswoman Alison Duquette said the agency moved to order the inspections after Boeing Co brought to its attention cracks and fractures found in a 767 operated by a major U.S. carrier.

United Airlines, the world's largest carrier, said the cracks and fractures were detected during routine servicing of the 767 in question, and were immediately reported to Boeing.

``It was routine maintenance and inspection of the aircraft,'' said Matthew Triaca, spokesman for the airline, which is owned by UAL Corp (NYSE:UAL - news) . ``When they notice this kind of thing they report it to the manufacturer.''

U.S. airlines will be asked to inspect the twin-aisle twin-jet to see if they have bolts made of a type of steel known as H-11 that is susceptible to damage.

If H-11 bolts are present, operators have the option of immediate replacement or periodic checks for damage every 300 takeoffs and landings or every 500 hours, whichever comes later.

Planes among the first 162 767s produced must be looked at in five days. Those produced from number 163 to 230 have 10 days to carry out the checks. Inspection is expected to cost about $300 per plane.

The order applies only to U.S.-registered aircraft but aviation authorities in other countries usually follow the FAA's lead. The agency estimated about 110 aircraft of foreign registry could be affected.

-- Rachel Gibson (rgibson@hotmail.com), May 19, 2000